By Nick Creely
WGCA PREMIER DIVISION
REVIEW – ROUND 10
Kooweerup got off to a Bright start, and simply couldn’t be stopped.
Champion Demons keeper batsman Chris Bright produced arguably the most dominant individual performance of the season to date, blasting a whirlwind century as his side thumped Cardinia at Denhams Road.
With the in-form star coming off scores of 99, 69, 32 and 86, there was almost inevitable he would explode and sent the crowd ducking for cover.
And that’s exactly what he did after his side won the toss elected to bat.
With fellow star and skipper Mark Cooper (38) taking a virtual back-seat, the Demons completely blitzed the Bulls, with Bright blasting a phenomenal 142 from just 91 balls, sending 21 fours racing along the turf and three over the rope.
To put the dominance into perspective, Bright reached his half-century with the score at 0/59, and his century at 0/136, with Cooper sitting on just 24.
With a double century well and truly in sight, Bright eventually fell first with a strike rate of 156, and the Demons on 189, setting up an entertaining finish with an array of talent still left in the sheds.
Entertaining cameos from Tyler Clark (41 not out), Steven Dillon (28) and an incredible 15-ball 45 from Jess Mathers lifted the home side to an incredibly imposing 4/317 from its 40 overs, a run-rate of almost eight.
The Bulls – already needing to get everything right in the chase to be in with a chance – had a horrid start with the blade, with Matt Bright (3/23) and Luke McMaster (3/27) ripping through the top-order to leave the visitors 5/39.
A well-made 29 from Travis Wheller helped lift the Bulls to 109, but it was a dominant all-rounder team effort from the Demons, who ran out 211-run winners.
The win helps the Demons keep a six-point buffer on top of the Premier Division ladder as the home-and-away season really starts to get to the pointy end.
Down at Lawson Poole Reserve, Tooradin did keep in touch with the Demons and sit in second spot after a comfortable win against Cranbourne Meadows.
The Rebels – needing a win to stay in touch with the top-four – lost the toss and had to field, and strong hands from Matthew Cox (45), Russ Lehman (51), skipper Cal O’Hare (48) and Neil Peake (56) made life difficult, with the Seagulls reaching 7/235.
Peake – in particular – has been remarkably consistent for the Seagulls through the middle-order and will be a player extremely important come finals, and has registered scores of 60, 54, 37, 64 and now 56 in recent weeks.
It was a horror start to the chase for the Rebels with Russ Lehman (2/22) finding the edge of Jaswinder Gill in the opening exchanges, but the home side fought valiantly to stay in the contest, with Kulith Rabel (38) in particular keeping them within touching distance if the middle and late orders fired.
But weight of numbers, and discipline from the Seagull bowling outfit saw the home side restricted to 9/175, with Troy Lehman (3/33) the pick of the bowlers.
Pakenham, meanwhile, retained the Vivian Shield against Devon Meadows at Glover Reserve.
And once again, Lions star Dale Tormey stole the show.
After a shaky start after winning the toss and electing to bat, Tormey cracked 82 to cross 700 runs for the season as the Lions recovered to post 8/211 off its 40 overs, with a late cameo from Jason Williams (31 not out) vital.
The damage was done early for the Panthers, with only Kyle Salerno (44) showing resistance in the top-order as the home side slumped to 5/71 courtesy of terrific spells from Jack Ryan (3/21) and Sean Gramc (3/12).
But an entertaining 52 not out from Mitch Kleinig off just 41 balls saw the Panthers fight the game out and finish on 188, with a run-out off the final ball of the game sealing the deal.
And in the final game of the round played on Sunday, Clyde still remains inside the top-four despite a surprise loss to Merinda Park at home.
The Cobras were well served by guest player – ex-Premier Cricket champion and current Berwick skipper Matthew Chasemore – who cracked 102 in his first hit for the club as the visitors posted a strong 7/205 off 40 overs.
Chasemore is also enjoying a strong year for the Bears in the strong DDCA Turf 1 competition, and clearly was a lifted for the Cobras who now seem almost certain of avoiding relegation.
Keifer Peries (71) seemed to be playing his own fine hand in the chase, anchoring the innings from the top, but the Cobras had the answers, with a stunning spell from Sasindu Perera (4/24) clinching the points.
The Cougars were bowled out for 165 in the 35th over, with Dylan Campbell (2/14) – who is the skipper of Mordialloc in Cricket Southern Bayside – doing great things with the new ball, while Matt Campbell (2/33) and Cobras skipper Jarrod Armitage (2/37) were vital.
